State Question 711 will remain on the November ballot

Updated:
Friday, September 24, 2004 6:59 AM EDT

State Question 711 will be on the Oklahoma ballot this November. This comes after the Oklahoma Supreme Court decided -not- to hear a lawsuit that would have taken a proposed gay marriage amendment off the ballot.

State Question 711 defines marriage as a union between "one man and one woman". It "prohibits giving the benefits of marriage to people who are not married" and invalidates "same sex marriages in other states".

Oklahoma law already bans same sex marriage; a "Yes" vote would add the language to the state constitution.

State representative Thad Balkman of Norman: "we've got to elevate the law and put it in our constitution which would make it much more difficult for some judge to go and overturn that law.â€

Opponent of the amendment James Nimmo: "why am I being prevented from receiving the same benefits other people receive just because they're married to an opposite gender person?"

Voters in at least 10 states will decide on marriage amendments in November.